There is a clear and pressing need to bridge the gap between climate change research and actual management activities on National Forests. The Northern Research Station, Northeastern Area, Eastern Region, and outside partners are working together to identify several initial actions that we can take jointly to address the management challenges brought on by the uncertainty of climate change. This project establishes a ‘Climate Change Response Framework’ at that will serve as a model for climate change adaptation and mitigation for National Forests both regionally and nationally.

Funding for this project was provided by the US Forest Service Global Change Program.

Project Summary

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) Climate Change Response Framework will incorporate landscape management activities that will help us adapt forests to new and changing conditions, as well as mitigate greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. This
project contains four efforts:

Create a Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis to evaluate key ecosystem vulnerabilities within CNNF under a range of future climate uncertainty using existing models and information, and a Mitigation Assessment to consider the potential for and efficacy of different forest carbon mitigation options within CNNF

Establish a Shared Landscapes Initiative to foster dialogue about climate change, ecosystem response, ecosystem management, and cooperative activities among CNNF, regional landowners, and the public

Identify the science needs and applications necessary for making science-based management decisions at CNNF within the context of climate uncertainty